Michigan Governor Whitmer cites her time at the Ford School

October 10, 2023

In an editorial for Education Week, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer urges teachers to move to Michigan, promoting what she calls, "a state with a positive vision for public education."  She begins the article citing her time and mission when she was a Towsley Foundation Policymaker in Residence at the Ford School.

"Educators today are fighting battles they never signed up for: lawsuits, book bans, and frivolous investigations. They are also fighting to make ends meet but are often underpaid and carry burdensome college debt. I understand their frustration. Before running for governor, I lectured at the University of Michigan. I taught a course called Running, Serving, and Leading for a few semesters at the Ford School of Public Policy. I took the job to engage with the leaders of tomorrow and return the favor that I got from my public education. That’s why educators do what they do—to help the next generation succeed."